100% Grass-Fed

Our family farming history began with my great-great-... (nine generations ago) grandfather Johannes. He, his wife and three children left Saxony, Germany, on April 20, 1734, aboard the ship St. Andrew, mastered by Capt. John Stedman. They landed at Philadelphia on Sept. 22 and eventually settled our family’s first "New World" farm near Society Run in Frederick Township, Montgomery County, Pa., in 1743. Pig farming was our family’s specialty until the mid 1950s. A lot has changed since then. Our BQA cow–calf operation includes 100% grass-fed registered Red Angus, Hereford and purebred Beefalo; 30 to 35 pastured Duroc and Spot pigs; 100 Freedom Ranger broilers; and 90 Golden Comet and Buff Orpington layers. We organically maintain 80 acres, comprising 15 acres in rotational pastures, 15 acres in tillable cropland, and alfalfa/mixed grass hay on the balance. We have never used chemical pesticides or herbicides on our pastures or hay fields. We are not a "certified" organic farming operation, but we prefer the natural/organic approach to help promote sustainability.

Why BQA? Part 6 of 6

Feb 06, 2010

It’s time for part 6 in a 6 part series.We’ve been looking at how the BQA (Beef Quality Assurance), program could help you streamline your cattle operation and increase the sustainability of your herds health, and make your life alot easier.

This week we will be looking at Safe Handling of your cattle both on the farm, ranch or feedlot as well as loading and unloading at your destination when delivering cattle.For those of you who have attended NCBA’s “Stockman & Stewardship” class at a BQA event near you, some of the following information will be a good refresher.

Cattle Vision

Cattle have a wide area of peripheral vision, with only a small blind spot immediately behind the animal.

Do not approach cattle from directly behind.

* Flight Zone

The flight zone is the distance that the cattle can be from you and still feel comfortable.
You can use the flight zone to quietly move cattle.

* Point of Balance and Movement

- There is a place on the shoulder of the animal called the point of balance.

- You can use this point to encourage the animal to go forward and backward.

- You should move cattle calmly and slowly with your hands and arms at your sides.

- Quick movements and loud noises like "calling" or whistling will make moving cattle more difficult.

* Moving Aids

“Persuaders” such as flags, plastic paddles, and a stick with plastic ribbons should replace electric prodsas much as possible.

An electric prod should NOT be a person’s primary driving tool. It should only be picked up and used whenabsolutely required to move a stubborn animal and then should be put back down.

“Persuaders” are the best tools for moving cattle. These devices can be used to turn cattle by blocking theirvision on one side of their head.

Checklist:PRIOR TO LOADING

* Clean truck:

- Between species

- Between changes from feeders to fat cattle

- Once a day

- Clean top to bottom, front to back, inside to outside

* Driver’s schedule for the day – needs to know:

- Specific locations of load pickups and drop offs

- Phone numbers of producers at pickup and drop off

- Approximate loading time

- Other relevant information about the shipment

- Correct pen number

- Correct lot number

- Sale barn buyer number

- Head count and loading instruction

Checklist:FOR UNLOADING

- Determine if you are at the correct facility before unloading. Don't laugh! It's happened.

- Weigh your truck if cattle are to be weighed on the truck.

-Back the trailer up to unloading chute squarely and evenly.

- Determine if unloading chute is in good repair (if portable, it must be properly anchored to truck).

- Chock the trailers wheel's. - Make sure the gates to the destination pen are open and the path is clear, then unload cattle from the truck.

Most of what we just reviewed is common sense, right? But for those of us that may transport cattle frequently, we can sometimes overlook the simplest safe handeling procedures, and that one detail can have a devistating outcome. Let's all be safe out there.

When we reconvene next week, we will be focusing on “MIG” & “MOB” grazing of cattle.